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Transformation Of The Week: How One Guy Went From Dad Bod To Shredded

PrintVictor Tangermann

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Reddit user alphaomega0669 didn't wake up one morning shouting "Eureka!" and scrambling to get to the gym for the first time in his life. In fact, most people's fitness journeys don't start that way. Hell, find me one person who has had such an experience. Long-term, effective and positive habit changes often come after a sustained period of not feeling 100% -- months or years spent feeling like you're not living up to your full potential until you wake up one day, crawl over to the mirror and realize that something has got to give.

And that's where alphaomega0669's journey began. He played football in high school, and his packed schedule and family life (he has an 11-year-old daughter) kept him so busy he let himself go, unable to dedicate his energy to keeping his diet in check and sticking to a fitness regimen.

An Honest Diet

"Years of fast food and overeating have suppressed the "I'm FULL!!" signals coming from my brain, which lead me to cheat throughout the day by grazing," he writes. Being dishonest with yourself about what you're putting into your body is much easier than you might expect. You might make a conscious effort in the morning, starting your day with oats and Greek yogurt. But when dinner time comes around, you might not think much of ordering pizza.

Being honest with yourself when it comes to your diet is essential to keep that belly in check. "I would rationalize the calories away by saying it was just a few this or just a few that."

Diet And Exercise Is Not Enough

"The biggest piece of advice I can give you is that to truly lose weight and keep it off, you cannot simply diet. You have to change your lifestyle."

There's a lot of truth to alphaomega0669's statement. Reaching your daily nutrition and caloric goals while working out five times a week is only half the battle -- there's a whole lot more to life than spending time at the gym and measuring out your oatmeal in the morning. Staying healthy in the long term requires lifestyle changes. For instance, getting to the gym on a regular basis is tricky when the life you've built up around yourself for decades gets in the way. A possible solution: Set your alarm earlier in the day to get a morning workout in. If your life partner has an obsession with unhealthy food, show them them the value and amazing flavor of tasty, healthy meals. Pick up a hobby together – being healthy is not just about perfecting your diet and gym routine.